Local occupy movement still strong

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Despite the fact that fewer people are spending time at the camp set up in downtown Fort Wayne, members of the local Occupy movement say they are still working to get their message out to the public.

"We started on October 15 and we have continually had a presence in either Headwaters or Freimann Square since then," said Max Johnson. "There's always someone here at any given time. There's been people here every single night."

Max Johnson, who estimates he's spent between 60 and 70 nights in the tents, is just one of dozens of people who joined the local version of the Occupy movement. The group has held rallies, informational meetings, and even a funeral for the Bill of Rights, which members say has been trampled on. They protest against social and economic inequality, high unemployment, and corporate greed and corruption.

Though participation has dwindled over the winter, it's expected to pick up again once it gets warmer.

"We really got started at the wrong time of year and it was getting cold so we're expecting it to be really big in the springtime," said Johnson.

"We have meetings every week pretty much so we're able to plan our next move, what we want to say to the public, and how we want to present that," said fellow Occupy member Bob Haddad.

Johnson and Haddad said they feel like people all across the country have listened - and that's exactly what they want.

"No message gets through perfectly to everyone, but what we have been able to do is change the conversation in this country," said Johnson.

"I was just watching the Daily Show and their experts are talking about the 99% and 1% and that's something Occupy movement has done," Johnson continued. "Congress is talking about our issues, the President is talking about our issues, the pundits are talking about our issues."

"The message is out there," Haddad agreed. "It's a powerful message that says the vast majority of Americans aren't happy with their representation." 

Both are looking forward to Wednesday's discussion with members of the Tea Party and want the public to know there are options outside of the traditional two-party system. They hope the forum will spark a conversation that helps bring Americans together.

"I think George Carlin had a saying, 'In this country we have 32 flavors of ice cream but only two parties.' And we only have two options for debate," said Haddad.

"It's a non-partisan movement and our principles are simply about the things that are good for 99% of us, for America as a whole. It's not about partisan issues or wedge issues, so I'd really like to be able to show that perhaps the divide isn't as wide as we all think it is," Johnson said.

"I also think it's very important to show the common ground that we have between ourselves and the people in the Tea Party because there has been a very strong perception from the right that's been pushed by mainstream media to say that Occupy is a movement for liberals, or the left, or it's for socialist, anarchists, communists, all these things. This just isn't true," Johnson reiterated. 

Watch our special Focus 15 Report: Occupy vs. Tea Party on Wednesday, February 29. It starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Walb Ballroom at IPFW and will air live on WANE-TV and on wane.com.